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United plane’s evacuation slide deploys mid-flight

SCARE IN THE SKY: An emergency slide deployed while the plane was in the air. Photo: Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Passengers say a United Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Kansas after an evacuation slide deployed during the flight, filling part of the cabin.

Mike Schroeder says he was flying from Chicago to Orange County, California, late Sunday when he heard a hiss and pop. He says he turned around and saw the plane’s emergency evacuation slide inflating inside the plane.

Schroeder says the pilot announced to passengers that they would be landing at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport. He says passengers remained calm and took pictures of the inflated slide with their phones.